I Freed Millions From Barbarism, Says President With No Regrets
In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with Ned Temko, Bush defends his legacy, issues a stern warning to Iran ... and reveals his plans for a freedom institute devoted to 'universal values'
By Ned Temko

For a political leader who has rivalled Gordon Brown's vertiginous nosedive in the opinion polls in the past year, president George W Bush looked remarkably untroubled by self-doubt as he crossed Europe last week.

The focus back home has shifted to the battle between Barack Obama and John McCain to succeed him. But Bush, on his last European tour as American President, is determined to prosecute his foreign policy agenda for his final seven months in the White House. Dealing aggressively with Iran, and its continuing nuclear aspirations, is top of the list. Stabilising and rebuilding Iraq, staying the course in Afghanistan and building a 'unity' alliance with key European leaders to achieve these goals are the other themes of the farewell trip.

At street level, the president's visit to Slovenia, Germany, Italy, France and now Britain has sometimes had an almost surreal quality. It is not just the politicians and pundits who seem to have begun shifting their gaze to a post-Bush era. Despite a small scattering of demonstrations, with a further protest expected in London, there has been little of the fire and fury that greeted him at the height of the controversy over the Iraq invasion.

LINK TO CON.